PwC Drops Guard On Crypto After US Digital Asset Rule Changes

bitcoinistОпубліковано о 2026-01-06Востаннє оновлено о 2026-01-06

Анотація

PwC, one of the Big Four accounting firms, has reversed its cautious approach toward cryptocurrency following new U.S. regulatory developments, including the Genius Act which regulates stablecoins. The firm is now actively promoting the use of digital asset technology, particularly stablecoins, to improve payment efficiency. This shift reflects growing institutional acceptance of crypto assets, especially stablecoins, which have seen increased adoption globally—including in Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe. Despite recent market consolidation, the stablecoin market cap remains strong near its all-time high at $307 billion. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is trading around $92,900, up 6% over the past week.

Big Four accounting firm PwC has reversed its cautious stance on crypto after regulatory developments related to the space in the United States.

PwC Has Softened Its Stance On Crypto

According to a report from the Financial Times, PwC has changed its strategy around digital assets following the new laws passed by Donald Trump’s administration. PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC in short, is a multinational professional services network headquartered in London. It provides services such as audits, tax planning, and business consulting to companies worldwide.

PwC is the second-largest firm of its kind and part of the Big Four accounting firms. Previously, the British company steered clear of crypto-related work in the US like other Big Four firms, but it seems that stance has now changed. The shift has come as the US has made advancements in its crypto regulatory framework. Among the new laws is the Genius Act, which regulates stablecoins, digital assets pegged to a fiat currency like the US Dollar (USD).

“The Genius Act and the regulatory rulemaking around stablecoin, I expect, will create more conviction around leaning into that product and that asset class,” said Paul Griggs, senior partner at PwC US, in an interview with FT.

Griggs added that PwC has been pitching companies on how they can use digital asset technology, with stablecoins as a means of improving payment systems’ efficiency, cited as one example.

PwC and other Big Four firms budging on crypto showcases the legislative momentum that the industry has had recently, with traditional finance increasingly unable to ignore the sector. Stablecoins, in particular, have been witnessing growing adoption. Beyond the American Genius Act, this class of digital assets also attracted regulatory attention in other parts of the world.

Hong Kong introduced a stablecoin issuer licensing framework last year, while Japan observed the launch of its first yen-based token. In Europe, major banks have come together to work on a euro-pegged coin, aiming to challenge the sector’s USD dominance. The positive regulation in 2025 meant that the space witnessed some sharp growth, with the market cap exploring new records, as data from DefiLlama shows.

The trend in the market cap of all stablecoins over the last several years | Source: DefiLlama

The sector hasn’t been unaffected by the wider slowdown in crypto since October, however. From the above chart, it’s visible that the stablecoin market cap has seen consolidation in the last few months.

Nonetheless, while other parts of the market have shrunken, these fiat-tied tokens still have their combined market cap sitting at $307 billion today, which is very close to the all-time high (ATH).

Bitcoin Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading around $92,900, up nearly 6% over the last week.

Looks like the price of the coin has shot up over the last few days | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView

Пов'язані питання

QWhy has PwC reversed its cautious stance on crypto in the US?

APwC reversed its cautious stance on crypto due to new regulatory developments in the United States, including the Genius Act which regulates stablecoins, providing more clarity and conviction for the asset class.

QWhat is the Genius Act mentioned in the article?

AThe Genius Act is a new US law that regulates stablecoins, which are digital assets pegged to a fiat currency like the US Dollar.

QHow does PwC plan to help companies with digital asset technology?

APwC has been pitching companies on how they can use digital asset technology, with stablecoins cited as a means to improve payment systems' efficiency.

QWhat is the current market cap of all stablecoins according to the article?

AThe combined market cap of all stablecoins is $307 billion, which is very close to the all-time high.

QWhat was the price of Bitcoin at the time of writing the article?

AAt the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading around $92,900, up nearly 6% over the last week.

Пов'язані матеріали

20 Billion Valuation, Alibaba and Tencent Competing to Invest, Whose Money Will Liang Wenfeng Take?

DeepSeek, an AI startup founded by Liang Wenfeng, is reportedly in talks with Alibaba and Tencent for an external funding round that could value the company at over $20 billion. This marks a significant shift, as DeepSeek had previously relied solely on funding from its parent company,幻方量化 (Huanfang Quantitative), and had resisted external investment. The potential valuation would place DeepSeek among the top-tier AI model companies in China, comparable to competitors like MoonDark (valued at ~$18 billion) and ahead of recently listed firms like MiniMax and Zhipu. The funding—which could range from $600 million (for a 3% stake) to $2 billion (for 10%)—is seen as a move to secure resources for model development, retain talent, and support infrastructure needs, particularly as competition in inference models and AI agents intensifies. Both Alibaba and Tencent are eager to invest, not only for financial returns but also to integrate DeepSeek into their broader AI ecosystems. However, DeepSeek’s leadership is cautious about maintaining independence and may prefer financial investors over strategic ones to avoid being locked into a specific tech ecosystem. Alternative options, such as state-backed funds, offer longer-term capital and policy support but may come with slower decision-making and potential constraints on global expansion. With competing AI firms accelerating their IPO plans, DeepSeek’s window for securing optimal terms may be narrowing. The final decision will reflect a trade-off between capital, resources, and strategic independence.

marsbit37 хв тому

20 Billion Valuation, Alibaba and Tencent Competing to Invest, Whose Money Will Liang Wenfeng Take?

marsbit37 хв тому

After Losing 97% of Its Market Value, iQiyi Attempts to Use AI to Forcefully Extend Its Lifespan

After losing 97% of its market value since its 2018 peak, iQiyi is aggressively pivoting to AI in a desperate attempt to survive. At its 2026 World Conference, CEO Gong Yu announced an "AI Artist Library" with over 100 virtual performers and a new AIGC platform, "NaDou Pro," promising faster production and lower costs. This shift comes as the company faces severe financial distress: its market cap sits near delisting thresholds at $1.36 billion, with significant losses, declining membership revenue, and depleted cash flow. The AI strategy has sparked controversy. Top actors have issued legal threats against unauthorized digital replicas, while in Hengdian, over 134,000 background actors are seeing their already scarce job opportunities vanish as AI replaces them for background roles. iQiyi's move represents a fundamental shift from being a high-cost content buyer to a landlord" to becoming a "platform capitalist" that transfers production risk to creators. This contrasts with competitors like Douyin (TikTok's Chinese counterpart), which is investing heavily in *real* actor-led short dramas, betting that authentic human connection retains users better than AI-generated content. The article draws a parallel to the 1920s transition to "talkies," which made cinema musicians obsolete but ultimately enriched the art form. In contrast, iQiyi's AI drive is framed not as an artistic evolution but as a cost-cutting measure that could degrade storytelling, replacing genuine human emotion with algorithmically calculated stimulation and potentially numbing audiences' capacity for empathy. The core question remains: can a company focused solely on financial survival preserve the art of storytelling?

marsbit41 хв тому

After Losing 97% of Its Market Value, iQiyi Attempts to Use AI to Forcefully Extend Its Lifespan

marsbit41 хв тому

Only a 50% Chance of Passing This Year, Can the CLARITY Bill Succeed Before the Midterm Elections?

The CLARITY Act, which passed the House in July 2025 with strong bipartisan support (294-134), faces a critical juncture in the Senate. The Senate Banking Committee is expected to hold a markup soon, but key issues remain unresolved, including stablecoin yield provisions, DeFi regulations, and securing full Republican committee support. Other contentious points involve the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), ethics amendments for government officials, and SEC-related matters. The legislative calendar is tight, with limited time before the midterm elections. If the committee markup is delayed beyond mid-May, the chances of passage in 2026 drop significantly. Senator Cynthia Lummis has warned that failure this year could delay comprehensive crypto market structure legislation until 2030 or later. Galaxy estimates the probability of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 is only about 50%. The bill provides crucial regulatory clarity by defining jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and CFTC, establishing a path for decentralization, and bringing digital commodity intermediaries under federal regulation. Its passage is seen as vital before potential power shifts in the next Congress, which could bring less favorable leadership to key committees. The timeline is compressed, and the bill must compete for floor time with other priorities like Iran authorization and DHS appropriations. Key hurdles include finalizing the stablecoin yield compromise text, addressing law enforcement concerns about BRCA, and navigating political dynamics around SEC nominations. The outcome of the Banking Committee markup and the level of bipartisan support will be critical indicators of its future success.

marsbit1 год тому

Only a 50% Chance of Passing This Year, Can the CLARITY Bill Succeed Before the Midterm Elections?

marsbit1 год тому

Торгівля

Спот
Ф'ючерси
活动图片